Infanta Sofia will always be in the shadow of her older sister Princess Leonor. This novel digs into the Spanish Royal Family situation with non-fiction details
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My father clears his throat and starts "So about the "thing" he says looking at my mother
"Are you ready to get married darling?" Prince Hasheem asks interrupting my father whilst looking at Leanor with a smirk. Everyone at the table freezes.
"Get what?!" Leanor practically shrieks
A day earlier... Princess Leanor and Infanta Sofia, Queen Sofia and Queen Letizia are enjoying tea time in the garden. Chirping birds can be heard nearby, butterflies fly swiftly around the garden tree.
"So, my dearest Leanor" My grandmother starts.
"Mother, we shouldn't bring this up right now." My mother interrupts grandmother.
Leanor looks between the Queens.
"what were you going to say grandmother? Mother what shouldn't she bring up right now?" I take a bite of my strawberry scone, making sure to not cross my legs which grandmother calls "improper."
Grandmother looks at mother and mother looks at grandmother, they both sigh in frustration.
"I was going to say...are you ready for...more tea!" she says snapping at the servants standing near the water fountain.
Leanor stares at both the Queens trying to get an answer but she gives up and sips on her freshly poured tea.
After tea time Grandmother left with her guards, and Leanor and I sit on the balcony over looking the whole garden. We sit in a awkward silence neither of us speaking or moving.
"what do you think Grandmother was going to say." Leanor suddenly blurts out.
"I don't think its anything to worry about" I say not making eye contact still staring out at the view.
I can see Leanor looking at me from the corner of my eye but I refuse to make eye contact.
"Sofia do you know something?"
I dont make eye contact and say
"why would you think that sister?"
"because you aren't making eye contact with me, and you are picking at your nails, whenever you're nervous you pick at your nails Sofia." I start sweating under my armpits, I've got to get out of here before I spill the secret.
I stand up
"I have to use the loo"
I practically run to the bathroom. I almost spilt the secret...
Earlier that day...
After tea time Mother calls me to her levorotary. I knock on the door and a servant creaks it open.
"mother?" I say walking in seeing a figure in the bathtub.
"Hello Sofia, come come sit here"
She raises her hand and pats on the side of the bathtub. I walk to the bathtub and take a seat, my mother has cucumbers on her eyes and a facemask on.
One of the servants are scrubbing her feet and legs as another one is washing her hair. Mother doesn't say a word as she sits her head up facing the ceiling. The silence is loud as the only sound in the room is her hair being scrubbed and the water splashing.
"mother what did you call me in here for exactly?" I say in a louder and more aggressive tone than I meant to.
She sits up a bit taking a cucumber off her eye and looks at me.
"There's something I want to tell you." She says still staring at me.
She stays staring at me for a few minutes. I jolt my neck forward with a lifted eyebrow
"mother what?" I say with a confused and slightly irritated tone.
"oh yes sorry, your sister is going to get married. I usually dont tell the Infanta secrets."
dam thats stung but marriage?
"well an arranged marriage to be exact." I unfreeze and stare at her.
What does she mean.
"To Prince Hasheem." PRINCE HASHEEM!? My crush? Wow.
"mother does she know about this?" I question
"No. Not yet. And she cant know until tomorrow at dinner. Now let me finish my bath. You may go."
she says waving her hand off.
I follow her orders and walk out of the bathroom. I make my way upstairs when I see Leanor sitting on the balcony.
I stop and lean on the staircase bar She's so beautiful no wonder she's the princess , her perfect jawline, perfect skin, perfect eyebrows, her build is so perfect, I could never be her. I don't notice that I am slipping until I stop myself by slamming my foot on the top step.
Leanor turns quickly and she spots me
"Sofia! come come!" she says scooting over on the balcony futon.
Dam.
I walk to the balcony door and slide it open to fit through. I take a seat next to her not making eye contact so I dont spill the secret.
For a few minutes Leanor and I look over the whole garden not saying a word.
"what do you think Grandmother was going to say." she blurts out.
I stare at the garden not making eye contact
"I dont think its anything to worry about" I say. If i tell Leanor the truth mother will never trust me with another secret as i AM the "infanta". I cringe at the thought of getting reprimanded.
"Why would you think that sister." I say starting to sweat.
"because you aren't making eye contact with me, and you are picking at your nails, whenever you're nervous you pick at your nails Sofia."
I freeze.
I cant tell her that she is getting married so i come up with something quick.
"I have to use the loo" I run off the balcony and go to my bedroom.
In my bedroom I start to write. Whenever Im nervous I write.
Whenever Im happy i write. Writing is what I was born to do.
I write for the rest of the evening until I pass out on my desk.
Birds chirp outside of my window like every morning. I sit up out of bed and ring the servant bell.
The doors flood with the day servants who get me ready. They do my makeup, hair and clothes.
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